Seven Must-Read Stories (Week Ending May 9, 2015)

Another chance to catch the most interesting, and important, articles from the previous week on MIT Technology Review.

May 8, 2015

Apple Has Plans for Your DNA
The iPhone could become a new tool in genetic studies.
A Better Way to Build Brain-Inspired Chips
An electronic device called the memristor could be our best hope for making practical chips that borrow design points from the human brain.
Paralyzed Again
We have the technology to dramatically increase the independence of people with spinal-cord injuries. The problem is bringing it to market and keeping it there.
Some Tesla Owners Pimp Their Rides with Code
A few Tesla drivers are rewriting the programming in the Model S to make the car do interesting new things.
Facebook’s Controversial Free-App Plan Gets Competition
As Facebook offers free data on mobile phones in India, a competing plan makes the same technology available to any Android app in 15 countries.
The Problem with Fake Meat
It might be possible to create a burger that helps the environment and improves your health. But will it taste good enough to win over the masses?
Spiders Ingest Nanotubes, Then Weave Silk Reinforced with Carbon
Spiders sprayed with water containing carbon nanotubes and graphene flakes have produced the toughest fibers ever measured, say materials scientists.